Hbj Gateley Wareing has launched an advice line to support clients on handling redundancies.

The firm said it has seen a surge in businesses seeking advice on how to make staff redundant.

Jacqueline McCluskey, partner and head of HBJ Gateley Wareing's employment team, said: "Employers can walk into a minefield of costly and time-consuming problems if they mismanage the redundancy process.

"This is a sensitive process where it is easy for businesses to fall foul of employment laws and hence the launch of our advice line.

"If employers fail to follow proper procedures, they could run the risk of potentially costly and damaging tribunals and this advice line will hopefully give them the support and reassurance they require."